When dealing with the Japanese culture, there are many things that can get lost in translation (just ask Bill Murray), but lucky for us, the Bihoro House in Japan speaks for itself. Promoted by the country's Ministry of Environment as an example of good ecological housing, the triangular house by <a href="http://www.kihachi-hh.jp/">Hiroshi Horio Architects</a> is the one of the loveliest <a href="http://germican.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/photos-canal-city-is-an-eye-popping-japanese-mall-filled-with-hanging-gardens-and-cooling-pools-inhabitat-green-design-will-save-the-world/">Japanese designs we've featured on Inhabitat</a>. Apart from metal cladding on the outside of a common area that connects three triangle pieces, the home features a lot of (hopefully certified) timber that gives it a fresh, evergreen ambience even in the snowy winters.

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

This house by Hiroshi Horio Architects is a model of ecological house

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

That is promoted by Japan's Minister of Environment

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

It consists of three volumes

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

With an earth floor

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

The first storey is clad in black metal

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

But everything else consists of untreated timber

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

As an ecological house, this should be certified timber.

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

The home lies on an expansive plot

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

And has a vegetable garden outside

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

We agree that this is a model worth emulating.

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Bihoro House by Hiroshi Horio

When dealing with the Japanese culture, there are many things that can get lost in translation (just ask Bill Murray), but lucky for us, the Bihoro House in Japan speaks for itself. Promoted by the country's Ministry of Environment as an example of good ecological housing, the triangular house by Hiroshi Horio Architects is the one of the loveliest Japanese designs we've featured on Inhabitat. Apart from metal cladding on the outside of a common area that connects three triangle pieces, the home features a lot of (hopefully certified) timber that gives it a fresh, evergreen ambience even in the snowy winters.